Sunderland: Dan Ballard reacts as Granit Xhaka posts first message since Chelsea links

Dan Ballard was among those to react as Sunderland teammate Granit Xhaka took to social media for the first time since being linked with a move to Chelsea.

Reports emerged on Saturday suggesting Xabi Alonso wants to reunite with Xhaka, having previously worked together at Bayer Leverkusen.

Xhaka was part of Leverkusen's Bundesliga-winning side in 2024, before joining Sunderland last year.

It has been suggested that Chelsea have already opened talks with Xhaka's camp while the player is away on World Cup duty with Switzerland.

Sunderland, for their part, insist their captain is not for sale as he still has two years to run on his contract.

Amid the growing talk that he could be on his way out of the Stadium of Light, the 33-year-old took to social media in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Granit Xhaka posts seven-word message from Switzerland training camp

Xhaka's full focus right now is on Switzerland's World Cup campaign - and rightly so.

Switzerland are through to the last 32 as Group B winners, having followed up a draw against Qatar with wins over Bosnia-Herzegovina and Canada.

Algeria now await in the next round in a game the Swiss will enter as favourites.

Xhaka has been hard at work on the training ground, posting pictures from Saturday's session on his personal Instagram account.

He captioned the post: "Building together on and off the field."

Ballard was among those to 'like' the post, which was inundated with comments from Chelsea fans pleading for him to join.

Sunderland know the ball is in their court, but only to an extent.

Xhaka may actually hold all the cards over Sunderland future

The fact Xhaka has another two years to run on his contract clearly aids Sunderland.

Xhaka is very much loved by the Sunderland fanbase - something that is mutual.

However, playing for one of the Premier League's elite clubs once again, under a manager he knows, will surely be tempting.

And as we know, player power means more these days than ever before.

If Xhaka wants the move, he knows how to go about getting it.

Sunderland fans will obviously hope it does not come to that, with Regis Le Bris no doubt desperate for the Black Cats to go all out to keep his key man.